Circuit-breaking device.



116.835,111. PATENTED 110V. 6, 1906.

CIRCUIT BREAKING DEVICE. APPLIUATION 15111111 2m11.190s.

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I V /NVENTOH l @1 A 'CHARLES F2. DOWLER u BY ATToH/vys A No. 835,411. PATEIITBD Nov. 6, 1906.

G. R. DOWLBR.

CIRCUIT BREAKING'DBVIGB.

APPLIOATION FILED 1311.9. 190s.

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C. E. ECWLEE.

CIRCUIT BREAKING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 9, 190B.

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CHARLES R. DOWLER, OF COLORADO RAILWAY RADO, A CORPORATION LAMAR, COLORADO, ASSIGNOR TO THE SIGNAL COMPANY, OF LAMAR, COLO- OF COLORADO.

CIRCUIT-BREAKING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. e, 1906.

Application tiled February 9, 1906. Serial No. 300,241.

To all whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES R. DowLER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Lamar, county of Prowers, and State of Colorado, have invented a new and Improved Circuit-Breaking Device, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to devices of the character stated employed with electric signal-circuits having' peculiar adaptability for use with railway electric danger-signals.

The invention may be generically stated as coniprehendiiig an electric circuit along railway-tracks, suit able signal devices, and means iii the circuit for breaking same, the circuitreaking devices 4being adapted for automatic operation, through action of peculiar means, upon undermining action or washout of the road-bed embankment or from spreading of the rails.

The following detail description of the preferred embodiment of my invention, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, will render same fully understood.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view in illustration of my invention. In the view the track-embankment is shown washed away, undermining the track, and the distant signal device illustrated at danger display. Fig. 2 `is a transverse sectional view. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail sectional view showing a portion of the circuit-breaker case and the latter in top plan view. Fig. 4 is a similar view with the parts shown by Fig. 3 illustrated in side elevation, and Fig. 5 is a perspective view illustrating another form of my invention.

In the practice of my invention I employ signal devices of suitable character`such as targets, lights, or equivalent means-and locate same at desired or danger points along a railway-track, the signal devices being secured at safety display through action of closed electric circuit and adapted for automatic operation to danger upon production of a break in the circuit. E ectric signal devices operating from safety to Hdan- O'er and danger to safety being broadly old and heretofore patented and inasmuch as practicable operation of the hereinafter described and claimed invention not restricted to association therewith of any f on 'the rope or cable, the oth particular form or character of similar signal i spring being confined by th means, detail illustration 0f a specific form of signal means set in operation through production of a break in the controlling-circuit is not deemed necessary for a full understanding of my invention.

In Fig. l oi' my drawings I have illustrated in perspective a railway-track with the embankment B thereof paralleled by a river or body of water C.

denotes suitable cases or inclosures having removable or other suitable doors E (see Fig. 3,) the cases being located along the opposite side of the railway-track at dangerpoints or opposite side thereof fromv the river or body of water C. The several cases D are arranged in communication through tubular passage-ways F.

denotes a signal device of preferred character-such as a target, light, or other meansthe same being located along the railwaytrack suitably distant from the danger-point. (Designated in Fig.` l by an adjacent body of water C.)

It will be understood that the signal device G is electrically operated. Its circuit includes a positive or negative wire H, su ported on suitable poles I, and circuit-comp etion wiring (see Figs. 3, 4, and 5,) leading through all the cases D. Y

I preferably employ current with the battery located in locked inclosure of the signal device G, but do not restrict myself to the use of such current nor to its location as stated.

In the cases D, I arrange separated terminals K in circuit with the adjacent ends of the wires J J. The terminals K are constructed with transverse yielding contacts L, (see Figs. 3, 4, and 5,) arranged suitably spaced apart and disposed with their free ends converging, substantially as shown by Fig. 5.

For completion of the circuits J K L, I employ a wedge-shaped plug M, (see Figs. 4 and 5,) with the same iixedly secured to one end of a cable or rope N, the cable or rope being extended into the case and provided with a suitable socket O, providing attaching means for the plug M, as will be understood.

The socket device O is made laterally eX- tending, as by arms P or other projecting means, providing a suitable shoulder for coniinement of one end of a spring Q, arranged er end of the e case wall,

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through which the cable N is extended, as will be understood. The spring Q, is intended for simply holding the plug M against being dislaced for circuit-closing position between the contacts L.

The cable or ropes N are extended from the cases D to the opposite side of the railway-track and provided with a suitable weight R, (see Fig. 2,) the weight being embedded in the track-embankment B, next to the body of water C, and the ropes or cables are arranged in suitable tubes S, extending from the cases D and disposed transversely under the railway-track to a point at the far side of the embankment.

Now it is apparent that should the em bankment be washed away, or the track otherwiseundermined, substantially as shown by Fig. i of my drawings, that the weights `R will, through connection of the cables N, pull the plugs M from circuit-closing position, between the contacts L, and since the signal device G (see Fig. l) is held at saiety,

' through suitable means operating with closed circuit, as hereinbeiore stated, upon production oi .a break in the circuit, as just described. The signal holding and setting means used by me is shown and described in. my allowed application for improved signal,

in Fig. 6 of my drawings i have shown another form of my general idea, in which the the weights R are dispensed with and the cable or ropes N connected by suitable means with the track-rail next to the cases D. T his form oi my invention is designed for producing a break in the circuit H J K L M of the remote signal device G upon displacement oi the track-#in other words,when the track is thrown out of proper' alinement-through means substantially as now described.

Having thus described my invention, what l claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is j 1. The combination with a s1gnal-d1splay device, oi' circuit-wires extending from the display device, terminals in circuit with said wires, means adapted for completion of elec-,

tric circuit between the terminals, and means embedded in the track-embankment, the embedded means being adapted 'for operation upon undermining action ot the track for adjusting the circuit-completing means to circuit-breaking adjustment.

2. The combination with a railway-tracksignal device, held at safety, by closure of suitable electric circuit and circuit-breakers in said circuit, the same being located along .g Y Y 835.411

the railway-track, of weights embedded in the track-embankment, the weight being arranged adapted, through their connection with the circuit-breakers, for adjusting them to circuit-breaking adjustment, upon undermining action oi the railway-track.

3. The combination with a railway-track signal, held at safety through closure of a suitable electric circuit, of normally closed circuit-breakers located along the track and arranged in said circuit, means inclosing the `circuit-breakers, and weights embedded in the trackembankment, the embedded weights being suitably connected with the circuit-breakers, adapting them for operation adjusting the circuit-breakers to open condition, upon undermining of their support.

4. The combination with a railway-track, of circuit-wires arranged along the track, a signal device held at safety by closed circuit through said wires, circuit-breakers employing separated contacts, a plug adapted for arrangement completing electric circuit between said contacts, yielding means adapted for holding the plug at circuit-closing position, and means embedded in the track-embankment adapted Jfor operation adjusting the plugs to open-circuit position, upon undermining oi the track-embankment'.

5. rl`he combination oi a signal device held at safety through operation ot closed electric circuit, circuit-breakers in said circuit, consisting of separated terminals and removalplugs completing electric circuit between said terminals, and normally supported weights connected with the circuit-closing plugs, the weights being connected with. the plugs adapted, upon removal of their support, for withdrawing them to open-circuit adjustment, substantially as described.

6. ln combination, a target or other signal means, located near a railroad-track, and held at safety display by closedcircuit means, circuit-wires extending from a location along the track, liable to be undermined, or otherwise rendered dangerous, suitablylocated circuit-closers arranged in the circuit extending along the track, and means whereby to break the target-circuit, employing means extending from said closers to and with attachment to suitably supported weights, the weights being located at points in the road-embankment liable to undermining action.

CHARLES R. DOWLER. Witnesses:

MAnsENA J. MoMiLLrN, WILLIAM A. MERRILL.

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